Have You Quitted Booze?

[Water Buffalo]

Hi,

So, i have been drinking weekly for over 10 years (I'm 26) and i am starting to think i should stop, mostly because i want to get healthy, mentally and physically. That and i am absolutely sick of the hang overs and get no pleasure from being drunk at all anymore, but still love the taste of different types of alcohol.

But i am really not sure if i can. I would never consider myself addicted, but the though of never drinking again makes me feel a bit sad (from a social point of view).

I am just wondering what to expect. I would like to hear from other people who have done this and get an idea of how long it took them to be completely free, how hard they found it, and how their life is after. I suppose i am looking for some inspiration and to get an idea of what to expect.

Hope this can be a nice thread.

Thanks in advance.

[h90]

weekly?

I did it daily.

I stopped since 1st November. You don't need to don't drink anymore for the rest of your life. Just now, just this week and than the next.

But as you aren't addicted you can drink at the next special event (birthday for example). Or if you can (I can not) just drink 1 beer instead of 6.

[ToddWeston]

I started drinking 30 years ago & I loved my wine and the odd night out with family and friends. I had a friend visit and frankly we were pigs I thought I was 26 again, I slept for 2 days and caught a bad air con cold about 6 weeks ago, after I was over the cold I grabbed a beer one evening and couldn't finish it.

I bought those girly coolers and decided to try one, same thing couldn't finish it.

I poured a nice single malt and dammit couldn't even take a second sip.

I wasn't a big drinker but the thought of having one isn't appealing at all - there was no withdrawl, I get tired some afternoons but I'm not sure it's alcohol related. I didnt decide to stop it just happened, I'm not making a big deal about just getting on with life.

Best of luck, I know I'll be drinking over the holidays & an upcoming trip to the UK afterwards who knows.

[kiniyow]

Stop drinking..Lose that gut if you don't have one yet it will come..Get healthy..Drinking slips up on you as a problem..Most are in denial yet never stop..Set your mind right and Stop..You will never regret it...

[kingstonkid]

You are young that is a good thing. Best thing to do is stop all together. What happens if you go a weekend with no booze?

Try that out. Go to a movie instead. Staying home may not be a good thing but going toa movie and a coffee after is alright try that out.

If you can do that and feel not the worse for wear then you are ok.

I did not drink much when I cme here but did when I was your age in Canada. I first had to learn to live without. Then had to learn that i could get a nice scotch or sippin whiskey and just have one.

[ezzra]

I don't drink anymore, but I don't drink any less either...

[spiritrace]

I quit drinking alcohol 38 years ago. Don't miss it. Saved a lot of money. Probably saved my life from driving and motorcycling. A glass of 7UP is just fine. Don't need alcohol to get down and dance or have fun.

Why did I quit? I watched a healthy strong young 18 year old drink himself to death in just 6 months. I was drinking a lot more than he was....

I don't preach against it, I just don't do it. It's up to the individual. I quit cold turkey and it did not bother me. Best and smartest thing I ever did in my life. If I can do it, anyone else can. Don't blame addiction or weak personality. You own brain is the most powerful asset you have.

[angelbat]

I am 51 years old and stopped drinking 8 months ago with a commitment to never drink again. I came to this decision while living in Chiang Mai (I am back in the U.S. right now), and I reinforced my decision by receiving sak yant (my initiatory yant) from an ajahn near Chiang Mai. (For those who don't know, keeping the 5 precepts is one of the "rules" of sak yant and is a rule that I take very seriously.)

I had been drinking practically every day, and sometimes heavily, for quite a while before that, so I had acute withdrawal symptoms as well as protracted withdrawal symptoms. I think I have made it through most of the protracted withdrawal now, and I feel happier, have more energy, and have a clearer mind than I've had in 20 years at least. I knew alcohol was bad for me but didn't realize just HOW bad until I'd been completely off it for several months.

I first started drinking in college, and drank to one degree or another most of the time since. Sometimes I would quit for a while, even as long as 2 years at one point, but I never before quit with the intention of never drinking again. Before now I would quit because I just wanted to quit for a while. However, after finally realizing how detrimental it was to my physical, mental, and emotional health, I committed to quitting for good. Perhaps one glass of wine a day would be healthy, or at least wouldn't be harmful, but the problem is I can't keep it to one glass. Alcohol is sneaky like that. I went through several cycles of quitting for a while, then saying that I'd start again but limit it to one glass a day. Then next thing I knew I'd be drinking two a day, then three a day, then....

Alcohol is a major factor in a host of health problems (especially depression) and causes so much suffering that so many people are in denial about. I was in denial for a long time myself. My advice: Quit, leave it behind, and don't look back. You'll get through whatever withdrawal symptoms you experience, you'll find that there are many other ways to kick back and relax, you'll get to the point that you don't miss it any more, and you'll find that life is better and more fun without it!

Best of luck to you!

Angela

[eljuwa]

I am 67 years old. Living in Thailand (Retired banker) since January 2010. Senior Executive banker for 45 years in the USA.

My drinking habits started in high school. No drugs. But, lots of booze. Started with scotch, then cognac and until last month, vodka.

Drank in school, drank at work, drank at leisure. Drank and drove - no DUI's, no arrests, no accidents. I guess that I was lucky.

I retired from banking in 2006. Moved from California to Las Vegas, Nevada where I continued to imbibe. My retirement funds were spent on booze. I ran out of money, mostly from the financial debacle in the USA and equally bad from the cost of booze. Now, I come to Thailand, living mostly on Social Security and the cost of booze per month was around 6,000 baht. I went back to the USA in October 2013. Arrived in Los Angeles on 12 October. A lot of booze parties until 22 October when I was in Las Vegas.

Then DISASTER struck me with full force. I was at a fancy restaurant at the Bellagio with some friends. Signs that there were WRONG signs with me. ( I was dressed in shorts (never during any dinner); lost my usual clear speech, muttering, garbled; bad temper and unfriendly. I walked out of the dinner (this was a dinner to celebrate my birthday) and I went to sleep. My friends knew that something was wrong. Up the following morning. 2 bloody mary's for b'fast. Drove back to Los Angeles. My friends insisted on coming to my hotel (on 23 October) and forced me into their car and took me to the Emergency Room at Glendale Memorial Hospital. Numerous tests / scans etc. They found two spots on the right side of my brain representing 2 strokes. The ER doctors said that in spite of the strokes that I was physically OK. They insisted on keeping me at the hospital overnight. More tests followed. Appointment with the neurologist on 24 October. His prognosis was the same as the ER doctors. Starting immediately (as prescribed by the neurologist): Eliminate all hard liquor. Allowed to drink 2 glasses of red wine, daily. 1 81 mg. Asprin and 1 75 mg, Plavix. After 3 months to drop the Asprin. Continue the Plavix. Lastly, the neurologist said: 5 minutes this way or that way - " either you would have died or you would have been paralyzed ". Death - I can accept. Being a vegetable was unacceptable.

Today is 21 November. I am hale and hearty. No vodka nor any other hard liquor since 24 October. Lost 10 lbs in weight.

I am living proof of how I survived and continue to exist in this wonderful earth.

[onni4me]

It was summer 2000 and I was looking an escape from town and my circle of "friends". I went on the countryside and after holidaying a bit found a nice house nearby the city that I could travel to work. First walk in that rather large land made gasp for breath. I was overweight alcoholic drunk and needed medication to be able to function in my daily routines. My head was suffering also. I had sleeping problems, I used Valium and similar to be able to walk straight. Passed year I was having 200 hangovers most of the time not making it to my bed but waking up on the sofa TV blasting.

I needed to escape and have a good excuse to withdraw from the social pressure to drink. I needed new friends. I needed new hobbies. I started gardening and walking exercises ( I was way too heavy to run). I lost 20 kilos in next 6 months and was still a big guy.

I am no saint nowadays either. I am a binge drinker, just can't stop when it gets started. I have alcoholics in my family and seen one of them die in a not so nice way. Luckily(?), I can't drink more than two days. I get such a hungover that it takes 2 to 3 days to feel normal again. This didn't used to be problem when I was OP's age but we all get old and our bodies aren't what they used to be.

Back in the year 2000 I was addicted to alcohol. I never thought I would be. I was 29 and verging on alcoholism. I needed a drink to feel normal. I had witnessed a friend drink himself out of a job, relationship, house and become a nuisance for his friends asking money and looking like a stinking bum etc. I saw another friend drink himself to death. At that point I just wanted to quit. I couldn't. It took several more years to have 2 weeks without a drink.

I bought a dog. A small dog but we have a long 5 km walk almost every day, not when raining heavily. I still do gardening, now in Thailand. Have had a Thai family for 8 years and regarding where I could be I consider myself very very lucky. I still drink occasionally, maybe twice a month but drink doesn't seem to taste good anymore. I feel sick during and after having it. I made a promise to myself to quit completely this coming New Year and for the first time in my life look the future with sober eyes.

I wish you the very best. Think hard what is best for you. BTW, one of my childhood friends quit drinking in your age and we are still the best of friends and he has never suffered from not drinking. It's not a must in social events, you know.

[Zumteufel]

"With moderation" is the keyword here as with everything else. Cut out the weekly alcohol trip, make it a monthly one instead. No need to go all straight edge, just be mindful about how much and how often.

[rct99q]

I was never a drunk but I liked to get drunk. Enjoyed all the pleasures of it....still do...in my mind. I made a decision to quite when my first child was conceived and in the past year and a half have had one small beer. Found it quite easy to tell you the truth.

Feelings after ward are hard to describe. I still go out (drink soda water), still have fun (although the drunken party jokes do not seem so funny), still do some crazy shit (although the fear factor is higher now as before it was blunted by alcohol) which in its own sense is even more fun. Friends seem to accept it, other drunken farangs are mystified that someone would not drink, the Thais themselves don't care and if truth be known (I am happily married and never stray) finding women here while sober is easier. Many of my female co-workers (thai) do not drink and have seen what it has done with other family members, and would be more than happy to settle down with someone who was sober (or did not drink at all).

But up to you as they say. I have found it to be an excellent decision.

[Lunghans]

I will be 59 next week, started drinking and smoking about the age of 15, 16. Worked in a bar from the age of 20, joined the military at the age of 24. In the military there was nothing else to do in the evening then go to the NCO mess and drink. Resigned when I was 30 and started working bars and beach clubs again There was always beer and booze. Made a career change, started to renovate houses and building and designing kitchens and interiors. After work went to this particular bar down town to drink with my friends and buddies. Start at 17.00 and stop at closing time 02.00. Did that almost every day for 18 years, until one day I came to the bar at 20.00. All my friends were still there sitting at the big table, tried to mix in with the conversation but could not. I had no idea what they were talking about and could not make a connection. Then it struck me, I was sitting at the big table talking drunk nonsense for 18 years obviously having a great time, but this day it scared the shit out of me. This made the change for me, stopped drinking and moved to Thailand for a year. Four years ago moved to Thailand permanently, I now drink 5 to 6 bottles of Chang per year no more. Could not stop the smoking though, until 3 months ago. Taking the dogs out in the evening, I feel a pain in my chest, jaws and left arm. Manage to walk home, 100 meters takes me about 10 minutes and tell the wife to drive me to the hospital. Diagnosed with a serious heart attack because of a main artery that is clogged for 80%, cholesterol way to high. Next morning they operated on me, performed an angioplasty and placed a stent to keep the artery open. Went home a day later with a big pack of medicines, Simvastatine, Apolets, Aspirine and Anapril and the serious advice to stop smoking. Haven't smoked since, starting to feel better every day. Bought a mountain bike and now making a 15 to 20 km round in the morning and if I still have the energy and time do this again in the evening.

Edited November 21, 2013 by Lunghans

[Nowisee]

Drink responsibly

[heybruce]

I drank quite a lot on a daily basis for years. Finally decided to quit so I quit. No support groups, counseling, tapering off, or any other BS. The only withdrawal sympton I suffered was mild boredom, but that passed when I found other ways to fill my time. I still drink occasionally, but now I drink in a month what I used to drink in a weekend.

Short answer: It's easier than you think.

[Dellie]

I stopped drinking recently (a year ago) when I moved out from Bangkok. Mostly because the local watering holes around here are way to low class for my taste and full of lo-so drama.

[ongchart]

I decided to quit quite accidentally. I was

feeling unfit for 4-5 years and made up my mind I had to get fit again to the level I was 20 years ago. Took to the gym, did some weights, got on the training bike, and I was hooked on cycling. So I took up road cycling, set myself some targets and was struggling to hit even the modest ones.

I read up extensively and realized I was drinking too much, not frequently but a couple nights a week. The problem was I couldn't stop at 2 or 3 beers. It was always till I felt really high and started doing silly things. But it was the after effects that killed my performance even after 2, 3 days. So I had to quit.

I lost my beer belly, overall fats was down to 11%, built up muscles, and after 6 months I was back to my weight when I was 25. I am 50 now.

Never felt better in my life, full of energy and eating healthily. The combination of daily 1-2 hours exercise and zero alcohol in the system do wonders to my overall being.

There is still pressure to drink at social gatherings, but after a while friends know to stop asking me to drink. Soda with a wedge of lemon is a good alternative to beer.

The OP should quit while young. You can save a fortune over 30 years, both in money not spent on alcohol and avoidance related health effects of drinking.

Good luck and persevere.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[HaleySabai]

Purpose is Meaning...... once you have clearly understood the purpose booze has for you then dropping it becomes a minor formality.

I can do with or without.....is a nice place to be....don't make it a problem, just see the purpose it has in your life and eventually you outgrow it . Oh, as for 'hang-overs'...keep your poisons pure...quality over quantity.

Alcohol is a major factor in a host of health problems (especially depression) and causes so much suffering that so many people are in denial about.

Alcohol is a "coping-device" and nothing more, its not a cause....its a maladaptive solution for a non-exsistent problem.

[Benmart]

What to expect from never drinking again?

From my experience:

Being Happy, Joyous and Free comes to mind.

Having great and sober friends.

Remembering trips, experiences and loves.

Tasting and enjoying food.

Having more resources to do things that really matter to me.

Doing things instead of putting them off because time got away from me while drinking.

Working out relationships with people in a peaceful manner.

Being a tranquil island in a sea of chaos.

Never waking up with a hangover and vomiting while hugging the toilet.

Regular, solid bowel movements when i decided.

Never unexpectedly urinating (or worse) in my pants

Never being arrested for alcohol related offenses.

Never having to go back and apologize to those i hurt the "night before".

Being able to deal,with life on life's terms.

Realizing that I am not the center of the universe.

Loving and being loved.

And lots more...

PM me if you want to learn more about LWOA (Life without Alcohol).

[LeeCraker]

I quit 12 years ago. I won't go into details here but before quitting life was bad. I owe my life - and happiness to some friends and sponsors. You may want to wait until you have lost everything and are in jail, or worse, many old timers believe you have to hit rock bottom before you can find the miracle - I have seen both ways. 99 percent of those with a problem die from alcoholism. Thats the way it is, I don't believe in BS-ing.

If you believe you don't have a problem keep drinking. If you think your life is ok, keep drinking.

However, if you are willing to admit you are powerless over alcohol and your life has become unmanageable here is help. http://www.aathailand.org

Lee

[fvw53]

I am surprised to read that a few people got rid of their drinking problem without medical assistance : good luck to them because it shows they were probably not alcohol addicts.

If consumption of alcohol is used on a long term as a (wrong) stress management then it can change the brain settings...the same way as "recreational" drugs...can do this....and then you can become an addict who probably needs medical assistance.

[Lunghans]

I am surprised to read that a few people got rid of their drinking problem without medical assistance : good luck to them because it shows they were probably not alcohol addicts.

If consumption of alcohol is used on a long term as a (wrong) stress management then it can change the brain settings...the same way as "recreational" drugs...can do this....and then you can become an addict who probably needs medical assistance.

I never had this idea I was addicted in all the years I have been drinking, I just enjoyed drinking with friends and the drunk feeling. At home I had never one drop of alcohol, I had this strong feeling that drinking alone at home was a very sad thing. The same goes for the cigarettes, smoked 43 years, sometimes in combination with the alcohol 2 packs a day, just enjoyed the smoke. When the doctor advised me strongly to stop, I just stopped, no side effects, no grumpy moods, just gained some weight.

[ghworker2010]

This is one of the better threads that I've read in a long time.

I was binge drinking for many yrs whilst working in the corporate world and then hit the wall.

Now in the LOS I drink a few 'Light' beers if I go out sometimes. Sometimes I just drink soda.

there are some nights when I've had a hot hard day and I simply must have a beer. I dont think that makes me a bad person or is bad for my health. Each to their own

[Water Buffalo]

Great replies.

Some really inspiring experiences here. I hope i can have as much perseverance as you guys/gals. Truly inspirational.

Hope to hear more. I plan to update my progress here as time goes by.

Thanks again for the support!

[Cantankerous]

Started drinking early, 12 when I started. Military at 15 didn't help (Scot), abused it ever since. Have stopped on many occasion, have started again straight afterwards. Only in the past couple of days has my son started to tell me to stop drinking, some of what he Said almost broke my heart. I have a problem & I admit it freely. I only hope that one day I'll be able to control my urge.

[Benmart]

Started drinking early, 12 when I started. Military at 15 didn't help (Scot), abused it ever since. Have stopped on many occasion, have started again straight afterwards. Only in the past couple of days has my son started to tell me to stop drinking, some of what he Said almost broke my heart. I have a problem & I admit it freely. I only hope that one day I'll be able to control my urge.

Please read the Big Book - Alcoholics Anonymous which is available on-line. It may be of help.

One Day at a Time.

[h90]

I am surprised to read that a few people got rid of their drinking problem without medical assistance : good luck to them because it shows they were probably not alcohol addicts.

If consumption of alcohol is used on a long term as a (wrong) stress management then it can change the brain settings...the same way as "recreational" drugs...can do this....and then you can become an addict who probably needs medical assistance.

There are a lot people who drink enormous amounts every day, but there body isn't or isn't much addicted. They can stop with little troubles, beside the craving for a drink.

While if you are really heavy addicted than there is not much choice than medial assistance.

The last 15 maybe 20 years I was every evening drunk, with light holes in my memory, like I cooked something and ate it, but can't remember it.

I just stopped without much problems. I have no real problem with alcohol, beside that I can't stop when I start. I can't keep some stock of beer at home and drink comfortable 1 beer at dinner. No way. But still I could complete stop without problems.

[Neeranam]

When I moved to Bangkok in 1992, I was drunk every night for the first couple of years. In 2000, I was drinking 2 large bottles of Sang Thip(Thai whisky) a day plus a few large Changs. On top of that I got heavily tolerant to diazepam(sometimes in excess of 200mg a day)

I drank regularly for 20 odd years from age 15. I, like you, felt like I'd be a sad case if I didn't drink. In Scotland one of the 'golden rules' is 'never trust a teetotaler. The others are never grass on your friends or hit a woman.

I started drinking alcoholically around 17 - that is when I need the morning drink.

Eventually the battle with alcohol wore me down to submission that I could never drink normally.

I was terrified of living sober. I had stopped growing emotionally at age 15.

It was hard but people in AA showed me how to live without a drink. Simple things like going out for coffee, or getting a haircut sober were new to me. I couldn't have done it without the help of other sober alkies, and still can't, even though I am 13 years sober.

How is my life now - the contrast is unbelievable in all areas.

I'd suggest finding out if you are an alcoholic or not. If you are, then doctors can't help. Abstinence is the only option.

If you're not, then there are methods to cut down and drink in moderation. All the best.

[Benmart]

Drink responsibly

Responsible drinking is an option if one is not an alcoholic.

From my personal experience, alcoholics generally don't live their lives responsibility or moderately.

Alcoholism, much like cancer or diabetes is a disease according to medical science. It is extremely difficult to manage by "responsible" or "moderate" drinking, much as trying to be a "responsible" or "moderate" diabetic.

Hospitals, mental institutions, prisons and graveyards are full of people who thought and lived otherwise.

One Day at a Time and Good Luck My Friend.

[hellodolly]

I found for my self that it was a lonely social life after a while. People did not want me around. There were many nights I had nbo rememberancy of. I finally had to stop. It is a disease that can kill you with out you having to leave the bar. Also it affects the mental process and over a long period of time you can become unwanted.

I no longer drink as I found out I would not get drunk if I did not drink one beer. It is that simple time has nothing to do with it. I just stay away from one drink and my life and physical have improved. Plus I now have friends. I have been in bars with some of my old drinking people and heard them tell me that if I felt like having a drink they did not want to see me do it and would try to talk me out of it.

One time we were in a bar and another company came in who we knew they were in the same business. One of them mentioned that he had heard I didn't drink any more I said that is correct and that was the end of it. Ten minutes later he just slammed his beer down said well you are not missing any thing and left. Guess what he was rite.

Doesn't make any difference to me how you do it. If you just quit that is fine or if you get medical attention and no longer drink that is also good. Some go to AA and some go to religion. That is all OK also. The main thing is you just don't drink the first one and you then have a chance. Ask me if I want a drink I say no. End of story.